In plain English
It is a way of providing high-speed communication through the standard copper wires used for telephone service. It sends digital information across those ordinary phone lines rather than needing a different kind of line.
In context
In this context, DSL labels the broadband connection or its status as one that uses digital data over ordinary copper telephone lines.
- Situation
- Installing broadband, activating service, using routers, and reading connection status
- What it communicates
- labels the broadband-line connection or status for DSL service.
Meaning limits
By itself, the term does not say whether the connection is active, working properly, or available.
Examples
“At the farmhouse, internet still comes by DSL over the same copper line as the telephone.”
“They cancelled the DSL when the shop closed for good.”